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From the pages of The Ponca City News, Tuesday, July 6, 1999 LOCAL DEATHS NEWS BRIEFS LIFESTYLES SPORTS BUSINESS LOCALEPA Sponsoring Study Here of Air Pollutants EPA Sponsoring Study Here of Air PollutantsPeople who live in Ponca City, Oklahoma City, McAlester and Tulsa are being sought for a study of residents’ exposure to environmental air pollutants during normal daily activities. Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the study is being conducted by the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health in the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center College of Public Health. The study will determine which factors in the urban environment and households affect exposure to airborne toxic compounds. Study volunteers must be no-smokers 21 to 50 years of age and live in a non-smoking household in a single-family house. Those selected for the study will: *wear air sampling and location tracking devices during a 24-hour period as they go about their normal activities. *keep a detailed diary of activities during the same period. *provide researchers access to their house to measure indoor and outdoor air-contaminant levels and evaluate the “leakiness” of the structure. Volunteers will be paid for their participation and be informed of the results of their personal and household exposure evaluation. For more information or to volunteer for the study, call the Oklahoma Urban Air Toxics Study coordinator in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at (405) 271-2070, or e-mail Margaret-Phillips @ouhsc.edu. Boy Rescued After Going Through Spillway GateTULSA, Okla. (AP) — A boy who tried unsuccessfully to retrieve his personal watercraft came away in good shape after being pulled through the rushing spillway waters at Grand Lake. Brett Edwards, 13, of Tulsa needed 16 stitches to repair the cuts in his legs. His knees were also ‘‘pretty banged up’’ but he was otherwise unhurt in Saturday’s scare, said his father, Tommy Edwards. ‘‘He came out of the lake and went down a considerable drop out of the dam,’’ said Mitch Long, who helped rescue Brett. ‘‘The water is just shooting out of there. He’s a lucky little boy.’’ Tommy Edwards said his son was riding his personal watercraft near the warning barrels on the lake when the engine in his Sea Doo died. Brett crashed into a barrel and was thrown into the water. ‘‘He was hanging onto a cable for a while, but when he saw the Sea Doo floating away, he went after it,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘He was afraid he was going to get in trouble.’’ He never reached the water craft. Instead, the current began pulling him toward the spillway gate. ‘‘It sucked him down and through and shot him way out,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘It’s a 30- to 40-foot drop into a rocky ravine.’’ Long, an off-duty firefighter from Sapulpa, and his friend Don Haynes were fishing downstream from the dam. They heard screams and navigated their boat upstream, where they found Brett clinging to a tree. Long said the high water level and the fact the boy was wearing a lift jacket probably saved his life. ‘‘I don’t know how far he would have gone if he hadn’t hung on to the tree,’’ Long said. ‘‘He’d come probably a mile down the river before we got him.’’ Long pulled the boy into the boat and started administering first aid to his legs. He stayed with him until an ambulance and helicopter came to take him to Tulsa’s St. Francis Hospital. He and his fishing buddy talked about it a little bit, he said. They decided that if anyone asks, they would just say, ‘‘We went fishing. Caught a lot of fish and even a little boy.’’ LettersA Union Station for Ponca CityA recent business trip to Missouri afforded me, among other things, an opportunity to visit Union Station in historic downtown St. Louis. A huge facility, beautifully landscaped, houses an upscale hotel, several restaurants, specialty shops, amusement attractions, even a museum. The overall project of Union Station, and its results, was the concerted effort of many groups. Recent headlines indicate that locally we have many efforts gearing towards our own “Union Station,” with rail transportation (i.e. Amtrak) and facility usage being addressed. While our facility is scaled down in size, the ideas for its use and their potential impact, can be huge. Why Amtrak? 1) Tourism — stop, shop, eat. 2) Regional and national travel. 3) Regional freight and mail handling. Why preserve the depot? Here in Ponca City we pride ourselves on heritage, class and style. The depot is a critical “gateway” to Amtrak travels not only from a historic standpoint, but as an introduction to our community. Work together. 2+2 equals more than four. The next meeting of the Santa Fe Depot Steering Committee will be Tuesday, July 13, at 6 p.m. The meeting place is currently being provided by the Ponca City Main Street Authority, 117 North Third. Come with ideas and expect great things. All aboard! Vicki Graves DEATHSOlive Irene Johnson Olive Irene JohnsonOlive Irene Johnson, longtime Ponca City resident, died Friday evening, July 2, 1999 at Stillwater Medical Center in Stillwater. She was 82. The funeral will be held Wednesday, July 7, 1999, at 10 a.m. at Faith Tabernacle, 501 South Fifth, Ponca City, with the Rev. Doug Scott and the Rev. Don Stanton officiating. Burial will follow in Newkirk Cemetery under the direction of Trout Funeral Home, Ponca City. Olive Irene (Snyder) Johnson was born Oct. 28, 1916, in Foraker to Abraham and Ollie (Locke) Snyder. She was raised in the Foraker, Shidler, Webb City area and attended schools in that area. She was a homemaker while working at various jobs outside the home most of her life, many years as a single parent. On Sept. 30, 1972, she married Bill A. Johnson in Ponca City, where they made their home. She enjoyed spending time with her family and friends and traveling. She is survived by her husband, Bill of the home; three daughters, Ollie Annette Guthrie of Great Bend, Kan., Darlene Bricker of Skiatook, and Imogene Harrell of Tulsa; two sons, Lester Burns of Edmond and Larry Burns of Stillwater; one sister, Juanita Sanders of Clute, Texas; 16 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; seven step-children; 13 step-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, and three sisters. Memorial contributions may be made in Mrs. Johnson’s name to a charity of the donor’s choice. ObituariesDavid McLeod MillsDavid McLeod Mills, lawyer, banker and politician, died at his home Saturday, July 3, 1999, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. He was 62. A Celebration of Life honoring David will be held Wednesday, July 7, 4:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Worship Center with the Rev. Dr. J.D. Ward, pastor, First United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Denny Hook, former pastor, officiating. Arrangements are under the direction of the Trout Funeral Home. There will be no viewing at the funeral home, however the family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the First Baptist Church from 3:30 p.m. until service time Wednesday. David was born May 28, 1937, in Santa Ana, Calif., to Malcolm McLeod and Mary Jane Mitchell Mills. He graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1955. In 1960 he received his B.A. from the University of Kansas. After graduating with distinction from KU Law School in 1963, he served in the U. S Air Force attaining the rank of captain. In 1966, he returned to his hometown of Arkansas City, Kan., where he joined the law firm of Dale, Hickman and Mills. David practiced law until 1990 when he left the practice to become President and CEO of First National Bank and Trust Company, now Home National Bank in Ponca City. During the time he lived in Arkansas City, he served two terms in the Kansas Legislature as State Representative for his district. He later worked as Senate liaison for two Kansas governors, Robert Bennett and Mike Hayden. He was a member of the Kansas Turnpike Authority, Kansas Board for Discipline of Attorneys, Board of Directors of Law Society at University of Kansas, Kansas University Development Committee and was a University of Kansas chancellor associate. He was elected to the Arkansas City Commission, and served as mayor of Arkansas City. He served on the Chamber of Commerce Board, Red Cross Board, Arkansas City Library Board, and as a city court judge, president of the United Fund, president of the Arkansas City Rotary Club, and was recipient of the Jaycee Distinguished Service Award. After moving to Ponca City, David continued his community service as a member of the Rotary Club (Paul Harris Fellow), Opportunity Center Board where he served as both secretary and president, Economic Development Advisory Board, United Way Board, chairman of the Marland Estate Commission, Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, member of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, financial chairman of the Pioneer Woman Museum expansion program, Salvation Army Board, and was a strong supporter of the YMCA. He served four years on the Cherokee Strip Golf Classic Council which benefits the Opportunity Center, and served as chief for two years. David was honored in 1998 as the recipient of the Ponca City Chamber of Commerce “Outstanding Citizen” award. David loved community service and truly practiced one of his favorite sayings “From those to whom much has been granted — much is expected.” He was a member of the First United Methodist Church where he served as a lay leader and was a member of the administrative board and the finance committee. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed tennis, racquetball, YMCA CrossLine, bridge, old classic movies, and reading. He especially enjoyed Winston Churchill memorabilia. He is survived by his wife, Diana, of the home; a daughter Kathy DeAngelis and her husband Quinn of Scottsdale, Ariz.; two sons Mitch and Jeff Mills, both of Santa Ana, Calif.; stepdaughter Kamille Greenhagen and her husband Rodney of Ponca City; stepson Zac Hardesty of Ponca City; mother Mary Jane Mills of Upland, Calif.; two sisters, Anne Allen of Upland, Calif., and Melissa Talbot, of Azusa, Calif.; two grandchildren, Ryan DeAngelis of Scottsdale, Ariz. and Hanna Greenhagen of Ponca City. His father Malcolm Mills and sister Margaret Lynn Neff preceded him in death. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Mayo Foundation, a worldwide leader in medical practice, education and research, c/o Melissa Young or Polly Feezell, Home National Bank, P.O. Box 1151, Ponca City, OK 74602. paid obituary NEWS BRIEFSBurglary — A resident in the 400 block of South Oak Street advised the Ponca City Police Department at 4:56 a.m. Monday that someone had broken into the residence. An officer responded and took a report of second degree burglary. A second report was taken for grand larceny. Miss Nan’s Christian Day School is accepting summer and fall enrollment. All ages. Please call 765-9939 for enrollment information. adv. Theft — At 6:06 a.m. Monday, an employee of Citgo, 400 East South Avenue, advised the Ponca City Police Department that two men left the business without paying for a 30-pack of beer. An officer responded and took a report. Every Wednesday ð price clothes and shoes, except priced items. Check our daily specials. Caboose Thrift Shoppe, First and Central. adv. Theft — An employee of Freewill Baptist Church, 1900 East Hubbard Road, contacted the Ponca City Police Department at 8:24 a.m. Monday to report a theft. An officer responded to take a report. Attention Steak & Shrimp lovers: Golden Corral, Wednesday Night, All you can eat steak and shrimp & shrimp buffet. 4 to close. $8.99.adv. Vandalism — At 11:37 a.m. Monday, a resident in the 1000 block of North Sunset Avenue contacted the Ponca City Police Department to report a vehicle was vandalized. An officer responded to take a report. Free Pregnancy test. Birth Choice cares. Confidential. Hours: Monday, 4-6 p.m., Tuesday, 6-8 p.m., Wednesday, 1-3 p.m. and Thursday, 6-8 p.m. 700 West Broadway. adv. Arrest — A Ponca City Police officer arrested a 33-year-old man from West Ponca Avenue and South Washington Street at 11:51 a.m. Monday for driving under suspension. Windshield Sale: Extra July Specials! 94-98 Dodge Pickup, $275; 88 & up Chevy pickup, $275. Johnson Glass, 515 South First, 762-2012. Call today for your appointment! adv. Arrest — At 11:54 a.m. Monday, a Ponca City police officer arrested a 22-year-old woman at South Elm Street and West South Avenue for driving while impaired and no insurance. Help the school of your choice. Donating a new VCR tape and ordering great entertainment from HBO or Showtime is a start. Call Cable One at 762-6684 for details. adv. Accident — A Ponca City police officer responded and took a report of an accident at Lucas Road and U.S. 60 at 1:51 p.m. Monday. No injuries were noted. Vandalism — A resident in the 1900 block of North Osage Street advised the Ponca City Police Department at 2:20 p.m. Monday that a vehicle was vandalized. An officer responded and took a report. Abandoned — At 2:25 p.m. Monday Ponca City communication officers left a note for Animal Control to pick up a bike which was abandoned in the 400 block of West Gary Avenue. Warrant Served — At 8:03 p.m. Monday, a Ponca City police officer arrested a 32-year-old woman at the police station on a city warrant. Fire — A Ponca City police officer responded to the 500 block of North Eighth Street at 8:22 p.m. Monday regarding a small fire in the backyard. The fire was put out prior to the officer’s arrival, however, he informed the subjects of the city ordinance prohibiting the activity. Line Down — At 8:51 p.m. Monday a resident in the 500 block of North Stephens made a 911 call to advise that a power line was down. The Water and Light Department were advised. Fireworks — A Ponca City police officer contacted subjects at 11:14 p.m. Monday in the 600 block of North Union Street. The subjects were advised of consequences of shooting fireworks. LIFESTYLESMiller Celebrates 94 YearsJoseph C. Miller, longtime Ponca City resident and grandson of the late George W. and Molly Miller of 101 Ranch fame, will celebrate his 94th birthday Wednesday, July 7. Friends are invited to send cards and letters to Joe at 821 Monument Drive, Ponca City, OK 74604. Reflecting on a unique and noteworthy lifetime, the lifelong resident of Ponca City was born July 7, 1905, in a house on the north side of the Salt Fork River on the famous 101 Ranch. He was one of three children born to Col. Joseph Carson and Elizabeth Verlin “Lizzie” Miller. At his birth, his father and the Ponca tribe held a 3-day powwow in his honor. They also selected an Indian name for Joseph, which was Wah-Kiyah-Tunga, meaning Morning Star. During his growing up years, Joe was active in school athletics, playing quarterback on the high school team. He also graduated valedictorian of his senior class. He attended both Oklahoma A&M (now Oklahoma State University) and the University of Oklahoma where he studied business and agriculture. Joe was married to Lucille Walter on Jan 14, 1914, in Tonkawa, and the couple made their first home on the 101 Ranch until moving to Ponca City in 1930. In 1927-28, he and Lucille traveled with the world-famous 101 Ranch Wild West Show. Joe was purchasing agent for the show and in 1928 served as president of the Western Show Corporation. Joe sold his interest in the show and left the 101 Ranch in 1930. He purchased Ponca Industrial Finance Corp., and served as president and manager until he sold the business in 1980. During World War II, Joe was commissioned as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy and retired as a commander. After World War II, Joe organized the Naval Reserve Unit 8-8 here and served as its commanding officer for about 20 years. Joe has donated numerous hours to local civic organizations and causes and was named “Ponca City’s Most Useful Citizen” in 1939. He has served as president of the Red Cross; president of the Retail Merchants Association, and director of the Chamber of Commerce, to name a few. He was honored recently for having more than 70 years of membership and service (60 with perfect attendance) in the Ponca City Kiwanis Club. Joe joined the club in 1928 and served as president in 1930 then as lieutenant governor of the Texas Oklahoma District in 1933. At this 94th birthday celebration, Joe is the only surviving grandchild of the famous 101 Ranch owners. He looks back on a colorful and unique history and a long life that has spanned the growth of Oklahoma from the pioneer era to the space age. BUSINESSFrom Scrap Paper Agreements To Volumes From Scrap Paper Agreements To VolumesEditor’s Note: This is the last in a three part series featuring Realtor Dick Sturdevant, who has been in Real Estate here for 47 years. By LOUISE ABERCROMBIE News Business Editor From the days of deals being sealed by handshakes and signed on a scrape of paper to documentation of today’s Real Estate market, long-time Ponca City Realtor Dick Sturdevant has experienced them all. The paper work has gone from about a three paragraph agreement to volumes. The paper work in the old days would be sent in on Monday and the deal closed on Friday. “A 30-day closing was almost never heard of because it was so long. Now a 30-day closing is the earliest you can do,” Sturdevant observed. “We did not have to have appraisals at that time. Now everything has to be appraised. The whole concept of Real Estate has changed. I sold half interest in the Poncan Theatre one time on hand shake. Everything was just as legal and just as serious as if you had written a 50-page document,” Sturdevant said. Talking about the value of Real Estate based on 1950 figures he noted $9,000 to $12,000 for little two-bedroom was a lot of money. On today’s money it would probably be the equivalent of $65,000 or $75,000 house. He remembers that with there were a lot of Veteran’s loans that did not require down payments. Someone once asked Dick what was the most homes you’ve ever sold in one day? The answer was 11. “Today if you sold 11 homes in a month that would be rather phenomenal,” he said. “It’s a different market altogether. People live with an element of distrust that I’ve never seen before. Not only that but the method of doing business changes about every five years. “This is because of the progress and the buying public is much more knowledgeable about Real Estate and financing than they used to be. This is helpful in a great sense because we encourage them to know all they can about Real Estate and about legal assistance,” the Realtor said. Downtown Changes Sturdevant said, “Back in the time I started working the commercial market it was just like a yo-yo. The downtown area would go through a ‘breathing’ process it would shrink and the core area would expand and in about seven years it would come back up until about 1990 and that expanded to every 12 to 15 years it (businesses) would go out and come back.” Things began to change when Wal-Mart concept came in, Sturdevant said. “It is going to be interesting. I find it extremely fascinating to watch. There is an answer to saving downtown in USA. “I am privileged to be part of one group that is negotiating through computer and conferences that tried to come up with ideas and methods of saving downtown. There are some interesting concepts. Some of them are pretty wild.” He added, “The answer is there. It’s just a new way of thinking — to think a way out and above of what we used to. Small town America thinks close to its belt and its got to change that way of thinking in order to survive.” Conoco Downsizing In response to affect that the downsizing of Conoco had on Real Estate, Sturdevant commented, “It had a dramatic affect. In the appraising business it has dropped off by 50 to 75 percent from the peak of the downsize period and the current period. That has affected the value of properties — low end and high end properties. “One thing that has happened in Ponca that is extremely interesting is that we have no new construction as everybody knows and you cannot keep a market open and you cannot keep it viable and it will not continue to be supportive of the dollar if you do not have some way for people to step up and expand. And just stepping up and expanding to older properties will not work — people want new facilities,” the long time Realtor said. “If we are not careful we are going to be a retirement village. And that has to turn around because it won’t be long until the money that people had when they retired will go to the kids out of state and Ponca City is going to be left like a desert. We have to address that problem.” he commented. A number of the Ponca City builders are working in Stillwater, home of OSU, where there is a building boom in process. Sturdevant told his theory on this, “There are a number of people who are graduating with degrees in specialities in the areas where Stillwater has industry already established, and a lot of those graduates are coming back to Stillwater because there are jobs there and expansion potential. “They are recycling — the graduate comes back to Stillwater and goes to work with their expertise and develops their house. With their incomes they can have a very respectable home in the $100,000 to $200,000 range.” Sturdevant said, “It is all tied to jobs. Without jobs you have no place to go and with the retirement money you don’t want to speculate. “I’d like to see us go to Stillwater and make a raid on the intellectual community there and bring them to Ponca City and have them put the same program on here. We’re just as well located as Stillwater we just haven’t touched the right buttons. That would also help stimulate the downtown area.” Real Estate Programs In 1962-63, Sturdevant was educational chairman for the Ponca City Board of Realtors and he found there were no educational materials for the state organization. With K.C. Anderson, his partner, Sturdevant decided to do something about that. The Ponca Citians sought out a national program call GRI (Graduate Realtor Institute) that had not been brought into the Midwest. K.C. and Dick wrote a program for Oklahoma and tried to find students that would go into it. “We couldn’t find anybody in Ponca or Stillwater or Bartlesville.” Chick Wright, a builder in Ponca City at the time was interested in education and loaned them his plane to fly around the state drumming up students for the project. “We put on a program in Oklahoma City, we had two students, within six months had the program off and running. Within two years we had put into the kitty a little over $100,000 put into the state association for education. As a result of the GRI program for Oklahoma and K.C. and I got a certificate. Now it is a full fledged advance program for Real Estate.” Dream Resort For five years (1978 to 1983) under the umbrella of the Kaw Lake Fairway Corp., Sturdevant and four associates were involved in developing a “super resort” on Kaw Lake. The projected oil bust led the team to disband the plan. The plans were grand and the experience was priceless, according to Dick. The group acquired 720 acres and did a large planning project. The master plan was by a Canadian group. Plans included 18-hole golf course, large conference center, shops, new style fire system, large runway and water rights for a city the size of Newkirk. The University of Kansas which was doing the computer work notified the group that a serious glitch was coming, and this matter was discussed over a period of two months. The group had to decide what to do. They had borrowed $53 million from a trucking union and deposited in First National Bank in Oklahoma City. The model arrangements were made and offices were lined up in London, Hawaii, and Rio DeJaniero. Also there were arrangements for a stern wheeler and a train from the Gene Autry facilities in California never been used. Sturdevant said all the projects had a “back door.” “This was just prior to the oil bust. We had to decide if we were going to go or not go. If we didn’t go we could never pick the money up again and if we did go we might lose everything we had. And wisdom said that we shut it down and we did.” He added, “Six months later the oil market collapsed And if we had gone ahead it would have been disastrous. We were able to sell the land and the debt service was $200,000. The corporation president said “‘if you don’t mind I’d like to absorb that, I need a tax write-off.’” About the experience Dick said, “It was the most fabulous experience I ever had. We still have files and the team touches base once a year in case something comes along.” Sturdevant is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and during his year the Presidents Club was developed. Also some innovate ideas were explored for the downtown area including second floor parking lots. At that time there were no public parking lots in the area. Conoco Community Advisory Council Set For Thursday SessionThe Conoco Community Advisory Council will be meeting Thursday, July 8, 1999 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the north side of the Fourth Street Clubhouse. This is a group of local citizens interested in maintaining a dialogue with Conoco on a broad range of topics in order to understand issues of mutual interest. This provides the community the opportunity to monitor Conoco’s performance on environmental and other matters and gives Conoco an effective way to have outside perspectives considered fully in its decisions that affect the community. It allows Conoco to gain a better understanding of the community’s interests and attitudes regarding Conoco’s Ponca City operations. Each meeting contains a Refinery report, along with Environmental and Safety reports concerning refinery operations. George Paczkowski will present information concerning Business, Government, and Social Values. We will also examine our scheduled topics for the remainder of the year. Any interested citizens are invited to attend this meeting. If you would like additional information, please contact Helen Hatlelid-Hester, facilitator, at 762-5665. Notes and QuotesBittman Wins Grant for United WayLarry C. Bittman, First Vice President, Investments, Prudential Securities Inc., Ponca City, has been selected for the 1999 Community Champions Shining Star level award recognition for volunteer service. A $1,000 grant will be made by The Prudential Foundation to the United Way of Ponca City, Inc., on Bittman’s behalf towards the end of July. The award is in recognition of Bittman’s commitment and dedication doing volunteer work. Kansas-Oklahoma MeetingA second meeting to discuss the economic well being and quality of life issues of the communities sharing common boundaries of Kansas and Oklahoma will be held in Wellington, Kan. on July 29. The first meeting was held in Blackwell on May 14 with 36 attendees representing 28 entities within the two states. Attendees at the first meeting felt it important enough to convene again, this time in Kansas to continue discussions. Whaley AppointedNationsBank Oklahoma President Roger Whaley has been named Small Business Banking executive for the Midwest region of Bank of America. Whaley will lead the bank’s focus on small business as a key customer group for this large geographic area which includes Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. OBA Seeks Liberty Bell NomineesOKLAHOMA CITY — Nominations are now being accepted by the Oklahoma Bar Association for its annual Liberty Bell, Courageous Lawyer and Outstanding Service to the Public Awards. The award honors non lawyers or lay organizations for promoting or publicizing matters regard the legal system. The Courageous Lawyer Award honors an attorney who has performed in a manner befitting the highest ideals of the profession without regard to potential harm to reputation or business. For more information call (405) 416-7004. Lisa Coy RecognizedThe Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives recently recognized Lisa Coy, Vice President/General Manager of the Ponca City Area Chamber of Commerce for successfully completing the Chamber Management Skills Series, Level Two. Classes provided insight into critical management issues such as working with volunteer boards, public policy, community analysis, fund raising, staff development and the executive’s role as a community leader. “Members of the class had the opportunity to gain additional insight into the roles and responsibilities of a successful chamber of commerce executive,” said Rick Roberts, president of the Oklahoma Chamber of Commerce Executives. “I am confident that the education and experience these executives received during this five-part program will enable them to better serve their communities and their organizations.” Participants in the OCCE Chamber Management Skills Series are chamber executives and staff from chambers of commerce throughout the state. In addition to formal classroom instruction, attendees are able to network with each other thereby increasing their learning potential. Graduates of the program are encouraged to implement new ideas, programs and strategies, in the chamber and use their enhanced knowledge to change and improve chamber programs, activities and events. OCCE, is a statewide organization for chamber of commerce professionals dedicated to the professional development of its members. City Coffers Receive Tax MoniesJune distribution of city sales tax collections by the Oklahoma Tax Commission for business conducted in April shows that Ponca City coffers received $830,630 compared to $821,400 for the same time period in 1998. Marc LaBossiere, financial officer for Ponca City said that when comparing year-over-year collections on retail sales, total-sales tax collections in the current month have increased from the same period of the prior year by 1.12 percent overall. The use tax brought in $85,947 compated to $43, 897 for June 1998. Statewide the distribution by the OTC totaled $71,874,082. The disbursement of sales tax collections to 488 cities and towns showed an increase of $2,565,865 from the $69,308,217 distribvuted to 487 cities and towns in June one year ago. Results of other area communities: City April 99 April 98 Bartlesville $826,194.........$953,252 Billings 12,530 8,168 Blackwell 81,996 86,210 Braman 1,634 1,592 Burbank 480 537 Deer Creek 1,017 690 Enid 1,288,741 1,192,171 Fairfax 14,306 14,601 Kaw City 2,581 3,215 Lamont 1,772 1,845 Marland 1,043 850 Medford 22,521 21,444 Morrison 4,370 4,293 Newkirk 21,764 25,143 Pawhuska 59,858 54,409 Pawnee 29,799 32,505 Perry 76,486 75,334 Pond Creek 7,395 6,712 Ralston 1,082 992 Red Rock 761 1,425 Shidler 1,774 2,165 Stillwater 1,055,383 995,914 Tonkawa 33,847 35,969 Lindsay Manufacturing Acquires Audio TechAudio Technology, Inc. of Dallas, Texas, one of the best suppliers and manufacturers of residential radio-intercom equipment, was recently acquired by Lindsay Manufacturing, Inc. (LMI) according to Winston Lindsay III, Chairman of the Board and CEO of LMI. In making his announcement, Lindsay stated, “We are excited about this opportunity to be united with AudioTech intercoms which will establish our position in the intercom market and enhance our existing central vacuum business.” He added, “What is most important, is that we are committed to carrying on the tradition set by Jim Lemmon and AudioTech, by offering the latest innovations in intercom equipment and personalized service to distribution, which is unsurpassed in the industry.” Audio Technology, Inc. was one of the first to introduce a “totally hands free” intercom system to the residential home market. Simplified installation procedures and general wiring compatibility are just a few of the innovations implemented by the Lemmons. Production has been scheduled for more radio intercom products and a new Model 660 stereo intercom with a six (6) disc CD changer will be introduced later in the year. Lindsay Manufacturing will be stocking AudioTech intercoms at its facility in Ponca City, which will allow dealers who distribute both products to combine their shipments. Operations at Audio Technology, Inc. will remain the same, including all warranty and service work, until Oct. 30, prior to which an announcement will be made on changes to operations in Dallas. Lindsay Manufacturing, Inc. is a global leader in the development and manufacture of central vacuums for commercial and residential applications. Lindsay’s central vacuum products are marketed under the trade names Vacu-Maid, Astro-Vac and Silent Partner. SPORTSOSU To Hold Father and Son Camp OSU To Hold Father and Son CampSTILLWATER — Applications are being accepted for the OSU men’s basketball program’s father-son basketball camp, to be held July 31 and August 1 in Stillwater. Coach Eddie Sutton and the OSU men’s basketball staff will treat campers to fun-packed sessions featuring the Cowboys' coaches and players. Guest speakers, including a strength coach, a sports psychologist and a nutritionist, will also instruct the attendees. The camp’s emphasis will be on individual drills as well as team games. Persons wishing to inquire about application forms should call the OSU men’s basketball office at (405) 744-5845. Application forms will be made available on OSU's web site (http://www.okstate.com) as well. The camp is limited to the first 50 applicants.
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